We have reestablished connection with the outside world as of this morning after a week's worth of exile. These little jottings will catch you up on life as it's lived in these tropical climes.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2000
¡Saludo! to the almost-mayor
We lost our internet connection this morning. Neighbor Nelson’s phone went on the fritz; no phone, no internet since we pick up our signal from him. Now for the long wait for Telmex to get here to fix it. Meanwhile, I will keep on writing these posts which, presumable, will appear eventually.
This afternoon at 3 PM we went down to Dago’s for a “thank you” comeda, thrown by Fernando, for all the people who worked in or contributed to his campaign for the el alcalde of Cuyutlán.
He ran a good campaign, had all the right issues (i.e, clean up the streets, repair electric lines to bring some badly-needed light into town, repair the sewage plant that frequently stinks up the place), had the backing of the PAN party in Armeria (he ran as a PAN candidate), but came in second to the PRI candidate who, I imagine, thinks he’s going to get a load of gold from the PRI party in the capitol, Colima. That won’t happen; that’s not how it works.
Local supporters, big gun pols from Armeria, friends both Mexican and gringo sat down to a comida of his fabulous sopa de pescado, full of shrimp, crayfish, pulpo, and a delicious, delicate white fish caught by one of Neighbor Nelson’s J boys.
Fernando worked the crowd like a true professional. It was great fun to watch the whole thing. He was upbeat, cheerful, and pragmatic about the whole experience. He learned a lot, made many friends, and is undoubtedly destined for something bigger.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2009
Dressing up for Christmas
Today I set up the old family crèche on the bookcase in the living room.
This particular set belonged to my parents; I think they bought it when they were living in Newport Beach, after my father retired. At Christmas time they would clear off one shelf of books in the little library foyer and set up the age-old scene. In our childhood, it was on the mantle of the living room fireplace. We came home from midnight services and, with great solemnity, put the Baby Jesus in his appointed spot.
My sister had custody of the crèche after our mother closed up her house and moved into an apartment. Vicky would set it up in the living room on top of a beautiful chest made by our grandfather. I brought the set home with me and now it is adorning our living room here. I like it because the figures are just the right size to be nicely arranged on the large space we have for it. On Thursday night we’ll add the Baby Jesus to make the scene complete.
I believe today is the birthday of my one and only niece (not counting nieces-in-law), Kaley, delightful mother of Ruby, my one and only grandniece. She will be celebrating this momentous occasion in the cold of Guilford, CT. Happy Birthday, precious one.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2009
What’s in your drawers?
This morning I decided to clean out the “everything” drawer in the kitchen, the place we shove everything to just get it out of sight.
Here’s what I found: bag of rubber bands, 2 boxes cup holders, bag curtain pins, box of various screws and molly bolts, totally useless on cement walls, box thumb tacks, box matches, 2 screw drivers, pair pliers, inflatable sponge – add water and it swells up, 2 plug adapters, lamp finial, 2 clothes pins, paint can opener, Lucite ruler, 2 large clear plastic bags, 2 pair scissors, 2 large clips for bags of crisps or cookies, fistful of twist ties, Exacto-type knife, digital timer, 2 sets house keys, 2 night lights, 1 very short telephone jack, 3 bags extra twinkle light bulbss and fuses, 1 box tacks, 10 birthday candles, retractable metal measuring tape, 1 night light bulb, bottle Terro ant poison, can holding various lengths of string, jar holding various lengths of string, 12 cork coasters, 7 tiny Christmas trees, made by my father out of fiber board, used as place cards at Christmas dinner, 2 of the above, but with the bases broken off, I tiny angel package decoration with rusted wings, 1 miniature cocoa leche cup, 1 strainer fitting for kitchen faucet, 5 pieces decorative trip broken from various Mexican gimcracks, jar with various sizes of screws and nails, tile brought back from Portugal in 2005 which I overlooked when remodeling the bathroom.
And that’s just the top drawer. Who knows what lurks beneath. But I got it all tidied up, threw away accumulated trash, and now it's ready to be used as a dumping ground again.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2009
Ah, to be 21 and in Paris . . .
I received this photo from Alex of Andrew as he strolled the Champs Elysee. Wouldn’t you love to be 21 again, in Paris for the first time in your life, young, foolish and carefree? Well, not with the Euro costing $1.43 . But otherwise, yes indeed. Here’s what he comments about that magical place: " Life here is incredibly magical. We just had our first snow. Its like frosting on everything. Its so gorgeous. I can't even begin to believe how beautiful this place is."
A child after my own heart. His mother raised him well.
On a more mundane level, we finally gave up on the wheezing, grinding refrigerator and went into Tecoman to buy a new one. We had found one a week ago but hoped we could make this old one last one more season. This big beauty was on sale for $5,899 pesos or, at today’s exchange rate, $445 US. Fernando will pick it up for us Tuesday or Wednesday. The great price includes all taxes, etc., but no delivery. Photo when it arrives.
Last week the tacito folks who serve up my favorite tacos de lengua were not in town. Tonight they were dishing up these little delights, but this time from an actual storefront, not from a wagon. Delicious, as usual.
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